Question

To an astronaut standing on the moon, the sky appears to be

• A. Red
• B. Blue
• C. Black
• D. White

Hint:

Sky color is an atmospheric phenomenon. No atmosphere = No scattering = Black sky. This is true for the Moon and for outer space in general.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The color of the sky as seen from a planet's surface depends on the presence and composition of an atmosphere. The color is a result of the scattering of sunlight by atmospheric particles.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
On Earth, the sky appears blue because the molecules in the atmosphere (mostly nitrogen and oxygen) are very small. They scatter shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) more effectively than longer wavelengths (red and orange). This phenomenon is called Rayleigh scattering.
The Moon, however, has no significant atmosphere. There are no particles to scatter the sunlight. In the absence of scattering, light from the sun travels in a straight line.
An astronaut on the Moon would see the sun as a very bright disc, but the rest of the sky, where there is no direct sunlight, would appear completely black, just like the void of outer space.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Since there is no atmosphere on the Moon to scatter sunlight, the sky appears black to an astronaut.